The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to deploy over 1.4 million ad hoc staff — mostly National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members — for the 2027 general elections across Nigeria.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during a strategic visit to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, where he praised corps members for their critical role in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy since 1999. According to him, corps members have consistently served as presiding officers and registration officials across polling units nationwide.
Amupitan revealed that INEC would require over 707,000 corps members for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and another 707,000 for the Governorship and State Assembly polls on February 6, 2027. Additional personnel will also be needed for off-cycle governorship elections and bye-elections in several states.
The INEC chairman further commended corps members for their neutrality, discipline, and digital competence, especially in operating the BVAS system during elections. He assured that measures would be strengthened to improve their welfare, insurance, and security during election duties.
Responding, NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu reaffirmed the scheme’s commitment to supporting credible elections, describing corps members as reliable and technologically skilled manpower crucial to modern electoral operations.
